- Red Bull drops Liam Lawson after a poor start to the 2025 F1 season.
- Yuki Tsunoda earns a promotion to race alongside Max Verstappen.
- Christian Horner cites championship ambitions as the reason for the switch.
Red Bull Racing has made a bold mid-season decision by replacing Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda after just two races. Lawson struggled in the opening rounds, failing to score points and crashing out in Australia.
Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, emphasized the move as a strategic decision aimed at strengthening their title campaign. While Lawson will return to Racing Bulls for further development, Tsunoda’s experience is expected to bring immediate improvements to Red Bull’s performance.
Yuki Tsunoda Joins Red Bull as Lawson Returns to Racing Bulls
Red Bull’s swift decision to replace Lawson with Tsunoda reflects the team’s high-performance expectations. The 23-year-old New Zealander struggled in qualifying and race pace, which prompted the leadership to take action before more damage was done to their championship hopes.
Tsunoda’s familiarity with Red Bull’s systems, coupled with his recent strong performances, made him the obvious choice for an upgrade. His promotion is particularly significant as he prepares to race for the first time as a full-fledged Red Bull driver at his home Grand Prix in Japan.
The move underscores Red Bull’s cutthroat approach to maintaining dominance in F1. With McLaren’s Lando Norris leading the championship, Red Bull aims to optimize its lineup for a stronger title challenge. Tsunoda’s ability to adapt quickly will be crucial in their pursuit of both individual and team success.
For Lawson, this change is a setback but not necessarily the end of his Red Bull career. The team has assured its commitment to his development, allowing him to gain more experience in a familiar setting before a potential return to the top team in the future.
Red Bull’s mid-season shake-up highlights the high stakes of Formula 1, where performance dictates opportunity. As Tsunoda seizes his chance, Lawson must regroup and prove his worth for another shot at the main team.
“We came into the 2025 season with two ambitions, to retain the World Drivers’ Championship and to reclaim the World Constructors’ title.” — Christian Horner
